Vocabulary in context
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Flippant
Lacking proper seriousness or respect; treating important matters with a frivolous, glib attitude.
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Imagine This
Imagine a tense classroom debate where a student rolls their eyes and fires off a rapid, jokey remark instead of giving a thoughtful answer.
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Sounds Like
FLIP-uhnt
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Looks Like
resembles the components flip + ant (the word literally contains 'flip' and 'ant')
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Remember This
Flippant behavior often undermines credibility; the term carries a negative judgment about someone’s respect for serious topics.
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Other Forms
flippantlyadverb
flippancynoun
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Connect With
frivolous, glib, impertinent, saucy, disrespectful
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Note
Use flippant for remarks or attitudes that are disrespectful or trivialize important matters. It is not just being witty; it implies a carelessness about consequences or seriousness.
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Study Deeper
Examples
- Her flippant remark during the meeting annoyed everyone and undercut her argument.
- The editor criticized the senator for a flippant attitude toward constitutional rights.
Synonyms
frivolousglibimpertinentsaucy
Antonyms
serioussolemnrespectful
Etymology
From flip + the suffix -ant; originally tied to the sense of being lively or jaunty, evolving to describe someone who is glibly disrespectful about serious matters.
Mnemonic
Flip + ant: a person who flips between seriousness and silliness, i.e., flippant.
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Instigate
verbTo urge, provoke, or start something, often by incitement; to initiate an action or event.
Decadence
nounA decline in cultural and moral standards, often accompanied by excessive self-indulgence and luxury.
Deride
verbTo mock or ridicule someone; to express contempt for by laughing at or making fun of them.
Similar Words
Related words and words with the same part of speech.
Abstruse
adjectiveDifficult to understand; obscure or highly complex.
Accidental
adjectiveHappening by chance or without deliberate planning; not intended. In music, it is also a noun for a symbol that temporarily alters a pitch.
Acerbic
adjectiveSharp or biting in tone or taste; caustic or mordant in manner.
Acquiescent
adjectiveReady to agree or approve without protest; compliant.
Adamant
adjectiveRigid in opinion or purpose; not willing to change one's mind or position.
Adept
adjectiveHaving or showing a high level of skill or proficiency; very capable.
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